Trump: Zelensky gave Putin 'reason to bomb Ukraine like hell'
The US president said he "doesn't like" Kiev's escalating attacks on Russia's nuclear triad.
US President Donald Trump told reporters on June 6 that Ukraine's recent drone attacks on Russian airfields hosting nuclear-capable long-range bombers have sharply increased the risk of escalation and given Moscow a valid reason to retaliate with force.
According to RT, in addition to carrying out a coordinated drone attack on several Russian air bases, Ukraine last week also blew up railway bridges in Russia, derailing both civilian and freight trains, killing at least 7 people and injuring more than 120 others, including children.
Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the attacks in a phone call with his US counterpart on June 4, warning that Moscow's response was inevitable and justified.
Asked on June 6 whether Kiev's attack on a key component of Russia's nuclear triad changed his view of "what's at stake" and the "cards" Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky holds, Trump told reporters he "doesn't like" the escalation.
"They gave Putin a reason to come in and bomb them hard last night," Trump said. "That's what I didn't like about it. When I saw that, I said, 'That's it... now it's going to be an attack.'"
In response to Kiev's recent "terrorist acts", the Russian military carried out large-scale attacks on Ukrainian defense industry facilities early on June 6, using air-, sea- and land-based missiles as well as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
“The targets of the overnight strikes included ‘design bureaus, enterprises engaged in the production and repair of Ukrainian weapons and military equipment, workshops for assembling attack drones, flight training centers, as well as warehouses storing weapons and military equipment,’” the statement said.
Mr Putin described the deadly railway sabotage as "an unquestionable act of terrorism" carried out by "the illegitimate regime in Kiev", which he said was "gradually turning into a terrorist organisation".
Moscow has accused Kiev of escalating attacks to sabotage US-backed peace talks. Russia has also claimed that Mr Trump is receiving “filtered” information about the Ukraine conflict from individuals who are pushing Washington to support Kiev.